You've definitely made one of these manicure mistakes before

Whether you’ve just only started getting into the gel manicure trend or are a seasoned manicure enthusiast, here are some mistakes you’ve most likely made with your manicure that you really shouldn’t:

Over trimming your cuticles

Your cuticles protect your nails from infections and other viruses so it's important not to damage them during a manicure. Instead of cutting and pulling them out, which is unfortunately a common practice in nail salons, get your technician to push them back gently with an orange stick.

You don't trim your nails regularly

Think of your nails as you would the hair on your head. Trimming your hair helps it to grow out better and look nicer. Likewise, trimming your nails helps them do the same, even if you're planning on growing them out long. So instead of letting your nail technician file your nails down (we don't recommend this as it causes nails to split and become brittle), as them to trim your talons with a nail clipper.

You don't pay attention to your hands

To extend the lifespan of your manicure, always make sure you pay attention to what your hands do and what you put them through. Always keep a tube of hand cream in your bag and remember to moisturise your fingers so they stay in tip top condition.

You don't let your nails rest between manicures

Not allowing your nail beds to rest between manicures really just sets you up for brittle and thinning nails. Constantly using acetone on your nails can weaken the nail beds and the bonds in your nails, making them break easily and giving them a yellow tinge. How long should each rest period be? A week at least. And if you've done a gel manicure, about two to three weeks is best.

You don't fix polish chips

Chipped polish will never be trendy. So if you've fot a chipped nail polish, we suggest either removing it and repainting or use this manicurist trick if the chip is small – dab a bit of nail polish remover onto one of your fingertips and gently press on the affected part, spreading the polish around it to cover the chip. The use a top coat to seal the deal.

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